Iowa Pork Congress in Des Moines Jan. 27-28
from news reports
Date Modified: 01/29/2010 4:01 PM
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DES MOINES —The Iowa Pork Producers Association will host the 2010 Iowa Pork Congress at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines Jan. 27 and 28.
"You would be hard-pressed to find a show that offers such a comprehensive array of exhibitors, educational opportunities, youth activities and social events, as well as a diversity of producers, educators, industry professionals and other attendees," said IPPA President John Vossberg, a producer from Janesville. "If it has to do with pork, you'll find it at the 2010 Pork Congress!"
The nation's largest winter swine trade show will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 27 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 28 at Hy-Vee Hall and Veterans' Memorial Auditorium.
Hy-Vee Hall is expected to have nearly 300 different companies exhibiting their swine-related products and services during the show.
One of the highlights of Pork Congress is the wide variety of seminars available and the fact that there's no additional charge to attend the sessions. Nearly a dozen seminars and live demonstrations are scheduled to be held during the two-day event.
Seminar topics include risk management, environmental regulations, market forecasts, employee training, alternative production systems and disease prevention. Producers also can attend live demonstrations on swine necropsy and feed efficiency. Certification training sessions on Pork Quality Assurance Plus and Transport Quality Assurance also will be offered at no additional cost to producers, as well as a certification session for confinement site manure applicators.
This year's featured keynote speaker is Michele Payn-Knoper, a professional speaker, agriculture expert and author from Indiana.
Fourteen youth candidates will compete for royalty titles at 2010 Iowa Pork Congress.
A total of nine candidates - all current county pork queens or princesses - will compete for the coveted title of Iowa Pork Queen. The runner up will assist the queen as the Iowa pork princess.
Five other young men and women are seeking the title of Premier Pork Youth Ambassador. Each candidate has served in the same capacity for their county organization.
All of the contestants will be judged on their interviewing and communications skills, poise, presentation and overall knowledge of the pork industry and Iowa agriculture.
Pork queen candidates from north Iowa are Ashley Beierschmitt, Fairbank; Kelley Glanz, Manchester; Codie Johnson, Wellsburg; Natalie Ostheimer, Iowa Falls; Jordan Bjustrom, Clarksville; Kendra Kruger, Sibley. Premier Pork Youth Ambassador contestants from North Iowa are Jamie Helmrichs, Manchester; Sarah Pakala, Dike; Daweyn Albertsen, Toledo; and Erin Sears, Dysart.
IPPA members and non-members can save money when they pre-register to attend Pork Congress. Registration at the door is $10. The cost to non-members is just $5 when they register in advance. IPPA members who pre-register receive free admission. Registration can be completed at http://www.iowaporkcongress.org/, or by using the form in the November issue of the Iowa Pork Producer magazine.
For more information, visit http://www.iowaporkcongress.org/ or call IPPA at (515) 225-7675 or (800) 372-7675.